Meet our researchers

“Over time, my HIV-infected patients on treatment became better. That's when I took a step back and felt frustration about needing a better solution to prevent new cases and end the epidemic. If I devote a small portion of my life ending HIV, I can’t think of anything better.”

A medical doctor and a widely-published researcher in HIV/TB treatment, Dr Fatima Laher currently directs vaccines clinical research at the PHRU. In 2015, Dr Laher was award the HIV Vaccines Trials Network (HVTN) Citizenship Award in recognition of her contributions to the field, and in 2012, the Inter Academy Medical Panel (IAMP) awarded her a Young Physician Leader. At present, she is the Soweto HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN) CRS Leader, co-chair of multiple ground-breaking vaccine research protocols with the HVTN, co-chair of the HVTN Training and Education Committee and a member of the HVTN Protocol Review Committee. She has a joint appointment at the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, her alma mater. Early in her career, Dr Fatima Laher's work on efavirenz in pregnancy was cited in the World Health Organisation safety review on the subject.